Espoir Football Club has named Alphonse Gatera as their new head coach. 

Gatera replaces Emmanuel Ruremesha who left the South Western Province based Rusizi FC for league archrivals Gicumbi FC two months ago. 

The former Mukura VS interim coach joins the Rusizi district-based Espoir on a two-year renewable contract and is set to start preparing the team for the forthcoming season, according to team vice president Godfroid Kamuzinzi.  

"Gatera is our new coach. We have offered him a two-year contract. He is starting the job later this week by assembling players and making new signings where it is necessary so that we can build a strong squad for next season,” Kamuzinzi told Times Sport on Monday. 

Gatera previously served as assistant coach of Police FC under Serbian Golan Kopunovic before switching to Mukura VS also as assistant under Burundian-born Cedric Kaze who resigned in the last leg of last season’s national league. 

Among other crucial signings, Gatera will have to get a suitable replacement for goalie Shamiru Bate who headed to AS Kigali and Clement Mutunzi who switched to newly topflight division promoted side, Sunrise FC based in Rwamagana district.